Photo by sheilaellen

Despite their reputation as pests, termites are actually fascinating creatures particularly for their complex social structures. But that isn't the only thing that hast attracted the attention of scientists lately. It seems that by watching where termites decide to build mounds, secrets to the ecological changes of Africa's savanna are revealed.

Photo via Virgin Media

Before your survival instinct kicks in and you grab a shoe to smack these spiders, beetles, snails, and other insects, keep in mind: They might be creepy, but that doesn't make them less important to the ecosystem.

Photo via C.E. Bucephalus

They´re the insect that everyone loves to hate - but one day a cockroach just may save your life.

Example of a sweat bee -- Metallic colored sweat bee species are diverse, and difficult to identify to which species a specimen belongs; photo via zackzen

Researchers Jason Gibbs who was working on a study of sweat bees discovered a new species while commuting from downtown Toronto to York University.

Image via National Geographic

Insect eggs are neat, but we had no idea they looked this neat. Gizmodo points us to a phenomenal slideshow of insect eggs photographed from and ant-eye view, making the less-than-2-millimeter eggs look other-worldly.

photo: minnemom via flickr

I admit there's no direct connection between this next one and sustainability, but from a science perspective it's just too interesting to pass by: New research shows that tobacco plants have evolved a "chemical SOS" signal that attracts insect predators when caterpillars are eating their leaves.

Photo via Plinkk

This year's coffee prices area already at a 12-year high due to low crop yields in South America, but it looks like prices could tighten again in the future if a particular beetle continues to bask in warming weather.

Biting female mosquito. Image credit:James Gathany/CDC , via the Gazeteer Extra.

Fear of disease is such a strong motivator. And most people hate insects,. Hence, you will occasionally see reference to the risk of climate-led outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases like encephalitis or West Nile as a way to get people to pay attention to climate change. That fear-factor didn't materialize in the political game, nor should it.

Image via Fast Company

A British beekeeper has been working on creating a new strain of honeybee resistant to the varroa mite, a prime suspect in colony collapse disorder (CCD), and it looks like he's hit a high note after 18 years of careful observation and selective breeding. Ron Hoskins found that bees in one of his hives figured out what a great idea mutual grooming can be -- they learned to clean the mites off one another.

Photo Peter Shearer, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research via darkroastedblend.com

When the sun goes down, the creatures of the night come out: And some have really weird and incredible built-in ways to keep the lights on.